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Answered2 years ago

Can I switch from a retirement extension to a marriage visa without keeping my bank account in Thailand?

Mark **********
asked Jan 31, 2025
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I'm currently on an extension for retirement which will expire in August but I want to change to marriage. The GSB bank has now stopped the app on the phone for foreigners so I want to close this account but if I'm changing to marriage visa do I still need to keep this account with the minimum 400000 baht in for the retirement visa?
Answer summary
The user is currently on a retirement extension that expires in August and wishes to switch to a marriage visa. They are concerned about closing their bank account at GSB bank, which has halted app services for foreigners. A commenter informed them that they must maintain a minimum balance of 400,000 baht to satisfy the seasoning requirements linked with their current retirement visa until they switch to the marriage visa. It is crucial that they transfer funds electronically without any downtime to ensure compliance.
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Ryan ********
Ryan ********
I’ve never heard one good thing about that bank.
Mark **********
Mark **********
OP
@Ryan *******
takes hours to get statements 🙄
Todd ********
Todd ********
Change banks
Chris *************
Chris *************
Was curious how easy/difficult it would be to do the same thing. For someone to go from a. Extension based on retirement to marriage without leaving the country.
Graham ******
Graham ******
@Chris ************
You do as outlined above with the finances and meet the extra requirements demanded for a marriage extension
Tod *********
Tod *********
If you used banked money method as your proof of funds for the extension you're currently on now you do indeed need to continue to meet the seasoning requirement

That means you kept 800K baht in the account for 3 months after the extension was granted last year and then don't let the balance go below 400K baht the whole rest of the year until you apply for a new yearly extension.

I would say as long as you didn't have any "down time" between switching the accounts (as in all the money was moved electronically from one account to another instantly) you'd be okay. Pulling it out in cash and redepositing it in another account would not work. 😕

You have to show that year transaction report that you kept a balance of 400K baht when you go to get the new extension based on marriage because you were on one based on retirement using banked money.
Яєӡа ******
Яєӡа ******
@Tod ********
the seasoning requirement has to be in saving account or can also be in mutual fund account?
Tod *********
Tod *********
@Яєӡа *****
Dunno that they have a mutual fund thai bank account here for foreigners at banks

the seasoning for extensions means the money has to be in an account you can access at any time. Can't be a fixed term deposit (where the principal is frozen the term of the deposit)
Tod *********
Tod *********
@Яєӡа *****
my apologies for my ignorance about mutual fund bank accounts here , it's not my skill set
Яєӡа ******
Яєӡа ******
@Tod ********
thanks Tod 👍🏼👍🏼
Tod *********
Tod *********
@Яєӡа *****
as long as you can access the funds any time you should be okay, you can't have any account where you can't get to the principle even if you pay a penalty or fee to access it you should be good
Яєӡа ******
Яєӡа ******
@Tod ********
they do actually. I have mutual fund accounts in SCB and KBank - there's also flexible mutual fund like in stocks and indexes
Mark **********
Mark **********
OP
@Tod ********
Thanks you have made it very clear 👍
Jakob *********
Jakob *********
@Tod ********
I transferred my 800,000 into another bank, was able to transfer only 49,999 at once, done it over time, and had no problem, not even got questioned about it. The money was always there in the bank

I done it from home on the phone
Tod *********
Tod *********
@Jakob ********
right as long as the total in ALL the banks doesn't go below the threshold you usually are good

Many people when they move banks transfer 400K baht to the new account, once it's there then they move the other 400K baht to it, that way even if the immigration office only allows one bank account (which some do) the minimum required amount was in it
Jakob *********
Jakob *********
@Tod ********
I would had to go to the bank to transfer 400,000, it never went below 400,000 in either account, as I have well over 800,000 in the account all the time
Matthew *********
Matthew *********
How much money did you make on interest for them holding your money. And isn't it funny you need less financial for being married than single.
Jakob *********
Jakob *********
@Matthew ********
on 800,000 or so about a bit over 6 baht a day, I usually got over 900,000 in it all the time, which gives around 7.4 baht a day

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